David Archuleta Likely to be Made a Big Favorite to Win American Idol Once Again

After being demoted by oddsmakers this past week, young David Archuleta will probably be made the better than even odds favorite to win this season's American Idol yet again.  By "better than even" we mean the payout won't be as great.  You'll probably have to risk more to win less in other words.  Don't be surprised by 1/2 odds where a $2 bet wins you $1 (and you win the initial $2 back if he ends up winning).

This week Archuleta came in as a 13/8 favorite, paying just better than even odds.  An $8 bet would have paid $13.  Odds were available at Bodog

David Archuleta performed "The Long and Winding Road", making up for last week's blunders.  He was the best performance of the first hour by far.

Archuleta lives in Murray, Utah and is a student at Murray High Schoo.   If his bid to become the next American Idol fails he plans to continue school and keep singing.  The only regular job he has had was over the summer of 2007 as a sound "techie" at a park amphitheater.  He once suffered partial vocal paralysis but refrained from risky surgery and feels he has fully recovered.

Archuleta started singing when he was six because he was inspired by a Les Misérables 10th-anniversary video he was watching, "That musical is what started all of this."  He started performing as an entertainer at ten years old when he participated in the Utah Talent Competition singing "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton; he received a standing ovation, and won the kid division.

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Jordan Bach, Gambling911.com

Originally published March 18, 2008 9:00 pm EST